Double twist spindle



Dec. 9, 1-952 BLEY 2,620,617

DOUBLE TWIST SPINDLE Filed Feb. 5, 1950 INVENTOR Euaozpw .5. 545v.

ATTORNEYG Patented Dec. 9, 1952 DOUBLE TWIST SPINDLE Rudolph S. Bley, Milligan College, Tenn, as-

signor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1950, Serial No. 142,131

This invention relates to improvements in twisting spindles and especially to twisting spindles of the kind adapted to impart two twists to the yarn, thread or cord undergoing twisting for each revolution of the spindle.

More particularly the invention relates to improvements in spindles intended forv the twisting of heavy denier yarn or cord.

In its various aspects the invention deals with improved methods and arrangements applicable to such double twist spindlesfor tensioning yarn or thread and for producing the novelty product known as abraded yarn.

In the operation of double twist spindles, the yarn or thread is withdrawn over-end from a supply package that is relatively stationary with respect to the rotating portion of the spindle, passes through a tensioning arrangement at the top of the spindle and thence down through a thread passage extending axially of the spindle. The yarn or thread approaches the entrance to the thread passage at the top of the spindle in rotational fashion throughout an arc of 360 and emerges near the bottom of the spindle, from a port in the rotor and then passes outwardly and upwardly around the spindle in the form of a so-called free balloon and thence to a suitable take-up device. The size of the balloon formed depends on the rotational speed of the spindle,

the speed of thread takeup and on the denier of 6 the yarn undergoing twist. The balloon is of importance in that a balloon of heavy denier thread would tend to draw the thread from the supply package at a faster rate than a balloon of comparatively small denier thread. By inserting an adjustable braking or tensioning means in the path traversed by the thread on its way from the supply package to the ballooning zone, preferably at the place where the thread enters the spindle, it is possible to regulate the flow of thread caused by the pull of the balloon as it is withdrawn from the package. At a point within the spindle and beyond the tensioning device a twist barrier is placed to prevent the twist from running back to the tensioning, device. This makes it possible for the filaments of the thread to become properly aligned before the twist is inserted.

In theprior artvarious meanssuch as weights have been used for applying tension, exerted as a braking action on the yarn or thread at the place where it enters the spindle. Free spherical masses such as balls are especially suitable for tensioning heavy denier yarn or. cord, but it has been found that a more reliable and easily controlled braking or tensioning action can be obtained if the ball is provided with a stem.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tensioning device for double twist spindles wherein the member that exerts tenisns eli sixarnroeibreadeies be icaur shaped:

12 Claims. (Cl. 57-2) or formed as a portion of a sphere, the control of the action of the tension-exerting member being effected by providing said member with a stem and lodging the member in a similarly s shaped recess or seat while allowing the stem to so: -Rigz aissaimewicmamenlargeitseaie or extend loosely into the mouth of the thread passage.

For certain purposes continuous filament yarn is converted into one containing discontinuous fibers, such as that known in the art as abraded yarn. Such eifect may be produced by the action of a rough surface on the yarn so as to break a certain number of the filaments, leaving an adequate number of unbroken filaments so that the finished yarn will possess sufiicient strength. In accordance with the present invention abrading is made a part of the twisting operation where it is combined with tensioning and the subsequent steps.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to twist and abrade yarn simultaneously on a double twist spindle equipped with a tensioning device and a twist barrier, the elements of either or both of which may be provided with a suitably roughened abrading surface.

@ther objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In accordance with the present invention the ball-shaped tensioning device used on a double twist spindle is provided with a short stem which prevents rotation of the ball by the downward passage of the thread into the spindle but permits the ball to nutate in the seat. The stem also aids in positioning the ball in its seat, especially if the ball is not held in position by a magnet usedto control the tensioning action of the ball.

For the production of abraded yarn it is customary to place a yarn abrading device on a conventional textile machine, such as a twister. In accordance with the present invention, however, a ball-shaped or disk-shaped tensioning member, its seat, or the elements of the twist barrier of a double twist spindle are suitably roughened so that in addition to performing their usual functions they also abrade the yarn.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, Where:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a typical double twist spindle embodying the tensioning device of the invention, said device being provided with a short stem, and also showing a twist barrier.

Fig. 2 is a View on an enlarged scale of the tensioning device used on the spindle shown in Fig. '1, the surface of the tensioning device being roughened. oven 11 fication of the tensioning device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of a tensioning device similar to that shown in Fig. 2

except that its surface is not roughened.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of a portion of a double twist spindle provided with a tensioning device such as that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section of a portion of a double twist spindle provided with a disk-shaped tensioning element.

Fig. '7 is a view of the tensioning element used on the spindle shown in Fig. 6, the surface of the element being roughened.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in section of the portion of a double twist spindle provided with a modified form of twist barrier.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of the chutes taken along the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the figures, the numeral 5 represents yarn or thread withdrawn from a package 2 carried by a spool and passing in the direction of arrow 3 to the tensioning device 4 here shown constituted as a ball provided with a short stem 5, shown more clearly in its various modifications in the enlarged views of Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The thread approaches and rotationally enters throughout an arc of 360 the aperture 6 of the tension device retainer 1 which does not constitute part of the present invention, but is disclosed in the copending application of Rudolph S. Bley, Ser. No. 142,132, filed February 3, 1950. The thread passes downwardly between the tensioning ball 4 and its seat in a member 8; past the stem 5 resting loosely in aperture 3| and travels through aligned thread passages 9 and bores such as I provided in the component parts of the spindle structure, e. g. H, during such travel passing between the elements of a twist barrier I8, and issues from one of a number of ports l2 in the spindle rotor 13 as indicated at M. The thread then passes upwardly around the bowl IS in the direction of arrows I6, I1 forming the free balloon represented by the line bearing these arrows and thence to a collecting device (not shown).

The tension exerting ball 4 may be magnetic or made of magnetically responsive material and actuated by the magnet [9, the attracting force of which may be modified by means of shims 20 of non-magnetic material. The ball is provided with a short stem which serves to prevent rotation of the ball by the downward passage of the thread into the spindle. It is desirable to prevent the ball from being rotated by the downward passage of the thread into the spindle, inasmuch as such a rotating ball cannot provide as effective braking action as a ball which is not permitted to rotate. The passage of the thread betweenthe ball and its seat throughout an arc of 360 causes the ball to nutate. The stem also aids in positioning the ball in its seat, especially if a magnet is not present to hold the ball in position or if the spindle is in a slightly tilted position.

The tensioning device has been described as a sphere or ball which may be solid or hollow and which is provided with a short stem. The tensioning effect may be controlled by changing the weight of the ball or by applying magnetic force to the ball. However, the stemmed tensioning device may also be of a shape other than spherical as long as the portion of the tensioning device which comes in contact with the thread is arcuately shaped. One embodiment of a nonspherical tensioning device is shown in Fig. 3 where the device is constituted as a section of a sphere 2| provided with a short stem 5. The configuration of this embodiment may be varied provided that the portion contacting with the running thread is arcuately shaped.

Double twist spindles are threaded up by inserting a threading-up wire in one of the ports [2 of the rotor l3 and pushing it upwardly through the thread passage as described for example in U. S. Patent No. 2,492,581 of 1949 to C. B. Kingsbury. If a ball retainer is not used, the

ballmust be removed manually and replaced after the thread is drawn through the spindle. If a retainer is used, however, the ball 4 is pushed upwardly and to one side by the threading-up wire, assuming the position shown by the dotted line 22 in Fig. 1. After the threading-up. wire with the thread attached to it is withdrawn, the tensioning member drops into operating position, being guided into place by the stem 5. The diameter of the stem 5 is such that'there is space for the thread to pass between it and the walls of thebore in the member 8. The'stem also serves to hold the ball in operating position if the spindle is tilted. It is obvious that a ball-like member can give a uniform tensioning effect only when the spindle is vertical or but slightly tilted.

The tensioning devices described above are provided with roughened surfaces 23 adapted to abrade the yarn by breaking a certain number of the filaments as the yarn is tensioned. The seat in which the stemmed ball rests may also be roughened to supplement the abrading effect and one or both of the elements of the twist barrier contacting the yarn may also be roughened so that they will produce an abrading efiect. In producing abraded yarn only a portion of the filamentsis broken, leaving some unbroken filaments so that the finished yarn will possess sufficient strength. The exact nature of the roughened abrading surfaces and the number of members whose surfaces are roughened will depend on the nature of the abrading efiect to be produced and on the denier of the yarn to be abraded.

The roughened abrading surfaces may be produced on the tensioning members or the elements of the twist barrier in any suitable manner as by sand-blasting, by providing a corrugated surface thereon, by using a coating of hard, rough ceramic material or the like, or by embedding abrasive material such as emery or carborundum in the surface of the members. If the members are provided with a rough ceramic surface, suitable magnetic or magnetically responsive cores may be incorporated in them to provide for magnetic control of the tensioning efiect or the action. of the twist barrier. Other embodiments of the twist barrier shown in the drawing and indicated at [8 in Fig. 1 may be used for abrading by suitably roughening one or both of their yarn contacting elements. A modified form of twist barrier which may be used in place of the barrier l8 illustrated in Fig. 1, is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and comprises. a pair of rotatable elements positioned in inclined chutes 5| that are formed in the cartridge 32 in opposing relation so that these rollers 50 descend these chutes toward each other and engage the yarn or thread 33 therebetween. These rollers 58 may be made of magnetic material and one of them may be magnetized so that they attract each other and press the yarn 33 between them. Furthermore, one or both of these rollers 50 may be suitably roughened so that the yarn 33 passing between 1 them is abraded. Such twist barriers are disclosed in the copending application oiRudolph S. Bley, Ser. N031429133, filed February 3,1950. When using a tensioning'ball' toabrade yarn, the ball must be provided with a stem to prevent rotation of the ballif a satisfactory abrading effect is to be produced.

The specific tensionng device described above is representative of those which may be used for the production of abraded yarn. Other suitably roughened tensioni-ng devices may be used in place of that described. Thus, flat tensioning "disks provided with a stem, when suitably roughened or co'rrugated, or when resting upon a suitably roughened .or corrugated surface are equally suitable for .abradingyarn. Such fiat disks,pr'ovided with a stem, are disclosed in the U. S. Patent No. 2,492,581 of 1949 to C. B."Kingsbury, wherein the tensioning disk is urged into engagement with the yarn by-its own weight, and in S; Patent No. 2,478,926 of 1949'to C. B. K-ingsbury wherein the tensioning disk is urged into engagement with the yarn magnetically. Disk-like members of the type disclosed in the aforesaid patents, when suitably roughened, are especially suited for t-ensioning and abrading fine denier yarn, while suitably roughened free spherical masses such as balls, provided with stems, are especially suitable for tensioning and abrading heavy denier yarn.

Fig. 6 is .a fragmentary view in-section of the top "portion of a typical double twist spindle similar to that shown in Fig. '1 but-provided with a stemmed disk-like 'tensioning member. This disk-like tensicning -member, its seat, or both tensioning member and seat may be suitably roughened or corrugated to abrade the yarn as it is "being twisted. Such a roughened disk-like tens'ioning member is shown in Fig. '7, the roughened surface being indicated at 23. The double twist spindle shown .in'Fig. 6 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 "onlyinthat the member 8 at the top of the spindle is provided with a fiat seat '28 for thetensioning disk which is provided with a short stem 39. The 'tensioning disk 29, roughened to abrade the yarn being tensioned, is shown in Fig. '7. If the seat 28 is roughened so'as to abrade-the yarn, a smooth tensioning disk may be used, or both seat and tensioning :disk may be roughened. As in the case of Fig. 1,- the stem 39 of the tensioning member 29 fits loosely in the aperture 3| of the member "8 so that the yarn can pass between the stem and the wall --of said aperture. 7

The double twist spindle herei-n disclosed is of conventional type, provided with a tensioning device to which a short stem is attached.

'In th'e'drawings'a complete operative assembly is shown wherein the ball-4 and the disk 29 areof magneticallyresponsive material and are caused to exert a braking action on the yarn by means of the magnet i9, shims 20 of non-magnetic material being used for adjusting the action of the magnet. However, the magnet l9 may be omitted and the stemmed ball iand the stemmed disk 29 caused to exert a braking action solely by their own weight. Spindles of this type may be driven in the usual manner by a belt 24, drive pulley 25, and idler 2S. 2'! is a type of manually opera-ted brake used for stopping such spindles. Other constructional details of a typical double twist spindle are shown in the drawing and need not "be discussed in detail.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thread apertures thereof are in alignment, a

movable'member reposing in said recess and having aportion arcuately shaped to correspond substantially to the shape of said recess and having -a short stem of magnetic material projecting through said first mentioned aperture and-into the aperture of said magnet and fitting loosely therein, said member and the surface of said-recess being susceptible of relative nutation durin passage of thread therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem,.sai d member being roughened to .abrade the yarn passing through the tensioning: device.

2. A device for tensioning yarn or thread. comprising means defining an 'arcuate recess having a thread aperture therein, a movable member reposing in said recess and having a portion arcuately shaped to correspondsubstantially to the shape of said recess and having a short stem of magnetic material projecting into .said aperture and 'fittingloosely therein said member and the surface of said recess being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, and a magnet for drawing said stem into said aperture sufficiently to prevent rotation ofsaid member by the downward passage of the yarn between the wall of the recess'and the surface of said member,.said member being roughened to abrade the yarn passing through the tensioning device.

3. In a double twist spindle including a device for tensioning yarn or thread comprising, in combination, members cooperating to. provide a downward yarn passage extending axially of said spindle, said yarn passage terminating in a recess in one of said members exteriorly of said spindle at the .top thereof, a ball-like member reposing in .said re'cess, a short stem of magnetic material "on said member, a magnet for drawing said stem'int'o saidvya-rn' pass-age, said stem serving to prevent rotation of the member by the downward passage of the yarn between the wall of the recess and the surface of said member, said memberwand the surface of said-recess being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread 'therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, said member being roughened to .abrade the yarn passing through the tensioning device;

4. Inc. doubletwistspindle of the typewhere- I in yarn or thread supplied from a package carried by said spindle is drawn'over-end from said package, rotationally enters a recess at the top of the spindle communicating with a thread passage-eXtending-down through the spindle, passes downwardly through said passage, emerges from a .port in a rotor at the bottom and passes up and around outside the spindle in the form of a free balloon, and wherein tension is applied to the yarn at its entry 'into said thread passage, the improvement comprising the provision of a ball-like member reposing in said recess and having a roughened surface to abrade the yarn, said member having a short stem of magnetic material projecting into said thread passage and fitting loosely therein, said member and the surface of said recess being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the thread passage beside said stem, and a magnet positioned below said stem for partially restraining said relative nutation.

5. In a double twist spindle of the type wherein yarn or thread supplied from a package carried by said spindle is drawn over-end from said package, rotationally enters a recess at the top of the spindle communicating with a thread passage extending down through the spindle, passes downwardly through said passage, emerges from a port in a rotor at the bottom and passes up and around outside the spindle in the form of a free balloon, and wherein tension is applied to the yarn at its entry into said thread passage, the improvement comprising the provision of a, balllike member reposing in said recess and having a roughened surface to abrade the yarn, said member having a short stem of magnetic material projecting into said thread passage and fitting loosely therein, said stem extending into said thread passage sufiiciently to prevent rotation of said member by the downward passage of the yarn between the wall of the recess and the surface of said member, said member and the surface of said recess being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the thread passage beside said stem, and a magnet positioned below said stem for partially restraining said relative nutation.

6. A device for simultaneously tensioning and abrading yarn including tensioning elements comprising a seat having a thread aperture therein, a freely movable member reposing on said seat and having a short stem projecting into said aperture and fitting loosely therein, said member and the surface of said seat being susceptible of relative nutation during the passage of yarn therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, at least one of said tensioning elements being roughened whereby to abrade yarn passing between said tensioning elements.

7. A device for simultaneously tensioning and abrading yarn including tensioning elements comprising a fiat seat having a thread aperture therein, a freely movable disk-like body reposing on said flat seat and having a short stem projecting into said aperture and fitting loosely therein, said disk-like body and the surface of said fiat seat being susceptible of relative nutation during the passage of yarn therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, at least one of sai tensioning elements being roughened whereby to abrade yarn passing between said tensioning elements.

8. A device for simultaneously tensioning and abrading yarn including tensioning elements comprising an arcuate recess having a thread aperture therein, a freely movable member reposing in said recess and having a portion arcuately shaped to correspond substantially to the shape of said recess and having a short stem projecting into said aperture and fitting loosely therein, said member and the surface of said recess being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of yarn therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, at least one of said tensioning ele ments being roughened whereby to abrade yarn passing between said tensioning elements.

9. In a double twist spindle comprising, in combination, means for simultaneously tensioning and abrading yarn, including tensioning elements associated with member cooperating to provide a downward yarn passage extending axially of said spindle, said yarn passage terminating in a recess in one of said members exteriorly of said spindle at the top thereof, a ball-like member reposing in said recess, a short stem on said-member extending loosely into said yarn passage, said stem serving to prevent rotation of said ball-like member by the downward passage of the yarn between the wall of the recess and the surface of aid ball-like member, said ball-like member and the surface of said recess being susceptible of relative nutation during passage of thread therebetween and through the aperture beside said stem, at least one of said tensioning elements being roughened to serve also as an abrading element whereby to abrade the yarn, passing between said tensioning elements.

10. In a double twist spindle including a device for tensioning yarn, comprising, in combination, a yarn passage extending axially of said spindle, means comprising two members arranged to contact with each other and engage said yarn between them at a point within said spindle after the tension has been applied to the yarn, said members constituting a barrier to prevent the twist from running back to the tensioning device, the members of said barrier comprising free elements disposed in inclined chutes carried by said spindle, said elements being disposed parallel to each other, at least one of the members constituting said barrier being roughened to serve also as an abrading element whereby to abrade the yarn passing between said members.

11. In a double twist spindle including a, device for tensioning yarn, comprising, in combination, a yarn passage extending axially of said spindle, means comprising two members arranged to contact with each other and to engage said yarn between them at a point within said spindle after the tension has been applied to the yarn, said members constituting a barrier to prevent the twist from running back to the tensioning device, at least one of the members constituting said barrier being roughened to serve also as an abrading element whereby to abrade the yarn passing between said members.

12. In a double twist spindle adapted for simultaneously twisting and abrading yarn, including tensioning elements associated with members cooperating to provide a downward yarn passage extending axially of said spindle, said yarn passage containing two elements arranged to engage said yarn between them at a point within said spindle after the tension has been applied to the yarn and constituting a barrier to prevent the twist from running back to the tensioning elements, a suitable number of said tensioning elements and of said barrier elements being roughened to serve also as abrading elements whereby to abrade the yarn undergoing twisting.

RUDOLPH S. BLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,659,441 Proctor Feb. 14, 1928 1,957,508 Taylor May 8, 1934 1,959,142 Taylor et a1 May 15, 1934 2,373,513 Stevenson Apr. 10, 1945 2,445,721 Bartholomew July 20, 1948 2,478,926 Kingsbury Aug. 16, 1949 2,492,581 Kingsbury Dec. 27, 1949 2,492,778 Agresti et al Dec. 27, 1949 

